But Asks to Increase Pollution by 800% At Existing Plant

By Dan Serres, Conservation Director

On February 20, 2018, Portland General Electric (PGE) officially ended plans to expand the Carty Generating Station, a fracked gas-fired facility located near Boardman, Oregon. This is a huge victory for our climate and public health.
PGE took a big step in this direction in 2017 when it suspended permitting requests for two new fracked gas-fired power plants at the Carty site. However, PGE’s decision to abandon the second and third fracked-gas fired power plant is welcome news to the thousands of Oregonians who urged PGE to rely on clean energy rather than expanding the region’s reliance on highly polluting fracked gas.

The specific reasons for PGE’s proposed increase in pollution deserve more investigation. PGE and its manufacturer failed to account for these emissions when the company obtained its initial air pollution permit for the recently completed Carty natural gas-fired power plant. PGE claims that it received new information after construction from its manufacturer about the plant’s air pollution. Additionally, PGE may be operating its facility differently than originally planned. PGE planned for Carty Unit 1 to be a baseload 450 MW power plant. Yet, the plant is now anticipating frequent startup and shutdowns, a major contributor to VOC pollution.

Regardless of its cause, PGE’s request for a massive increase in smog-forming pollution demonstrates that fracked gas power plants are major polluters. In addition to spurring more fracking, huge greenhouse gas emissions, and the consumption of millions of gallons of water, gas-fired power plants create immediate health and environmental impacts, such as the formation of low-level ozone (smog).

Hold PGE to current annual pollution limits for VOCs and carbon monoxide.

Limit startup and shutdown events. DEQ proposes an hourly limit during startup and shutdown. But these hourly emissions still result in a massive annual increase in smog-forming pollution, based on PGE’s expected operations. This is unacceptable.

Cold startups are particularly polluting events, according to the emissions summary for the Carty Plant. If these events are pushing PGE over its pollution limit, then PGE should limit cold startups.

Investigate additional Best Available Control Technologies (BACT) that could reduce VOC and carbon monoxide pollution, including restrictions on how PGE operates its facility.

Study the potential impact of smog-forming pollution on the Gorge National Scenic Area and nearby communities.

In May 2017, Hanford made national news when a tunnel containing highly radioactive waste partially collapsed, triggering a shelter-in-place order for nearby workers and prompting widespread concerns about Hanford’s aging nuclear infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Energy (Energy) filled the tunnel with grout, a form of cement. Now, Energy seeks to fill a second, larger tunnel with grout. if left in place, the pollution in the tunnels—known as the PUREX tunnels—could pose long-term risks to soils, groundwater, and the Columbia River.

PGE wants to increase smog-forming pollution at its Carty Generating Station, a 450 MW fracked gas-fired power plant. The plant began operating in 2016. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) new draft air pollution permit would allow the Carty Generating Station to emit 800% more volatile organic compounds, a key component of low-level ozone (smog) formation. Join Riverkeeper urging DEQ to hold PGE to its current pollution limits, and not to open the door to more pollution from PGE’s new fracked gas power plant. ACT NOW!